[Volleyball] Volleyball opens conference play Saturday, hosting Tabor

The trial and error period has ended for Kansas Wesleyan volleyball coach Jessica Cleveland.

Cleveland has spent the first 5½ weeks of her inaugural season with the Coyotes experimenting with different rotations while giving numerous squad members the chance to show what they can do.

With only one returning starter (senior Kendyl Estes (SR/Shafter, Calif.)) and several freshmen on the roster the results haven't always been kind, as evidenced by the 3-11 record.

None of that matters now, though, as KWU prepares to open Kansas Conference play Saturday against Tabor. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Mabee Arena.

"I feel like we've explored all avenues, we've experimented all different ways as far as lineups and all of that," Cleveland said. "Now I feel like I have the right to commit to something and run with it. Just have more trust in the players to get the job done."

The Coyotes defeated Tabor 3-2 in a wild non-conference match August 28 in Hillsboro. The Bluejays won the first two sets 25-17, 25-21 before KWU rallied to win the last three 25-21, 25-23, 17-15.

KWU lost its next seven matches, though, before sweeping Bethel 3-0 September 20 in North Newton in another non-conference match – the last match before KCAC play.

"It was big," Cleveland said of the victory. "We overcame two barriers. It was our first win in three (sets), which was good heading into conference, and the first two sets were 25-23 battles and previously we had lost those."

Cleveland said it's been a matter of young players learning how to maneuver and succeed at the college level.

"I think a lot of them are scared to make mistakes because they are freshmen but I'd rather go out swinging than play it safe," she said. "We're focusing playing to win and not to lose and trying to switch the mentality of it.

"The mental stuff is super hard to teach. Can we learn from our past and go into conference play with confidence, if we haven't lost that. I haven't, I hope they haven't."

That includes forgetting what has previously transpired.

"I've written on the board in the locker room 'we are 0-0,'" Cleveland said. "They need to know this is a fresh start and you get one chance to make this better."

Tabor is 7-13 and has lost its last three matches.

Cleveland's been especially pleased with the play of three Coyotes – Estes and two freshmen.

"Kendyl is doing a phenomenal job as a leader and is the one that holds them to that winning standard," she said. "(Setter) Cortney Hanna (FR/Lawrence, Kan.)h has come in as a freshman and she doesn't get rattled. She was in the running for national player of the week so I'm putting full confidence in her right now. She's going to make errors but she's going to be better, too. In the long run it will pay off for sure.

"Madison Beckett is a competitor. Against Friends she had 18 kills and they didn't even put two blockers on her because she was just that dynamic. She found all wood and she has a heavy arm so the ball just makes a great sound when it hits the floor."

Hannah and classmate Emily Monson (FR/Cheney, Kan.) were recognized by the conference for their play last week – Hannah was named the Setter of the Week and Monson the Defender of the Week.

Cleveland likes the fact the Coyotes are at home for the opener.

"Hopefully it gives us some confidence going into playing them a second time and also having that home court advantage," she said. "We haven't been home very much (five matches) so hopefully we can feed off the energy of being in our own gym with our own crowd."